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National Fellowships

As a member of the honors program, you are well-positioned to apply to competitive national fellowships. While the impetus ultimately lies with you, the honors program director can help you select fellowships that match your goals and support your applications. For tips on writing personal statements, and how they differ for each fellowship, go to https://www.e-education.psu.edu/writingpersonalstatementsonline/p5.html

Apply your sophomore year:

GoldwaterScholarship for students in math and the sciences. The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program awards up to 260 scholarships of $7500 towards undergraduate tuition, fees, books, and room and board. You may apply in your sophomore and/or junior year, but may receive the award only once. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and must be nominated (Fisk can nominate up to four students each year). For more information visit https://goldwater.scholarsapply.org/yybull.php and/or contact the faculty representative, Dr. Warren Collins. Applications are due in January.

Summer Medical and Dental Education Program (SMDEP). This summer academic program supports students preparing to apply to medical or dental school. For more information visit http://smdep.org/. Deadline:March 1

Gilman Scholarship for students studying abroad. Run by the Institute of International Education and funded by the State Department, the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program provides financial support for academic experiences abroad. Applicants must be Pell-eligible U.S. citizens, and must be applying to or accepted to a study abroad program. For more information visit http://www.iie.org/en/Programs/Gilman-Scholarship-Program/Application-Process and/or contact Dr. Fleming. Deadline: January for students studying abroad the following fall; October for students studying abroad the following spring.

Apply your Junior year:

GoldwaterScholarship for students in math and the sciences. The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program awards up to 260 scholarships of $7500 towards undergraduate tuition, fees, books, and room and board. You may apply in your sophomore and/or junior year, but may receive the award only once. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and must be nominated (Fisk can nominate up to four students each year). For more information visit https://goldwater.scholarsapply.org/yybull.php and/or contact the faculty representative, Dr. Warren Collins. Applications are due in January.

Truman Scholarship for students interested in public service.The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation awards 55-60 scholarships each year, to students who are planning on graduate school and are committed to careers in government, nonprofit, or advocacy. Awardees must be U.S. citizens, and apply during their junior year. Applicants must be nominated by Fisk. For more information visit https://www.truman.gov/. Applications are due in February of your junior year.

Apply your Senior year:

Rhodes Scholarship. Recognized as the “oldest and most celebrated international fellowships in the world,” Rhodes scholarships support a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident to study at Oxford University. Former Rhodes scholars include Newark Mayor Cory Booker, Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal, MSNBC host Rachel Maddow, National Security Advisor Susan Rice, former Tennessee Titan Myron Rolle, and former president Bill Clinton. Applicants must be endorsed by Fisk University, and must secure 5-8 letters of recommendation, in addition to the other requirements. For more information go to http://www.rhodesscholar.org/applying-for-the-scholarship/. Deadline: early October

Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) or Study/Research Awards. Funded by the State Department, Fulbright fellows spend a year in a foreign culture serving as a cultural ambassador. Though no Fisk student has been awarded a Fulbright recently, we have a historic connection to the program: Fisk President Charles S. Johnson served on the inaugural J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, and alumnus John Hope Franklin was chair of Fulbright Board of Foreign Scholarships from 1966-1969. The fellowship is open to all U.S. Citizens. ETAs support local English language teachers, while Study/Research fellows pursue an independent research agenda. For more consult with Fisk’s Fulbright Program Advisor, Dr. Fleming, or go to http://us.fulbrightonline.org/applicants/getting-startedDeadline: early October

Marshall Scholarship. Open to U.S. citizens with a minimum GPA of 3.7, the Marshall Scholarship funds up to forty students a year to attend graduate school in the United Kingdom. For more information visit http://www.marshallscholarship.org/applications/applyDeadline: early October

Britt Scholarship. The L.D. Britt, M.D. scholarship fund supports minority students who have been accepted to medical school. For more information visit http://www.ldbrittmdscholarshipfund.org/#!apply-here/cmh5 Deadline: late August

These fellowships are competitive but also quite prestigious: in addition to the tangible benefits each fellowship provides, graduate schools and future employers are impressed by these awards. Early in the spring semester (the first week of March), the honors program will host an event to celebrate students who apply to these fellowships (if you apply to a competitive national fellowship not listed here, let Dr. Fleming know).

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